Mid-Week Inspiration: May 25, 2022
On May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, the principal speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony was James A. Garfield, a Civil War general, a Republican congressman from Ohio, and a future president.
He gave a speech that lasted over two hours. It began, “If silence is ever golden, it must be beside the graves of fifteen-thousand men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem the music of which can never be sung."
After the speech, songs, and prayers were over, volunteers decorated the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.
As Memorial Day approaches, take time to say a prayer and stand in silence over the lives of men and women whose sacrifice is more significant than any speech.
Memorial Day Prayer
Gracious God, as we honor the courage and cherish the memory of those who have died in active service, may we put our faith in the potential of a future worth sacrificing for, and in doing so, remember that you are the source of life and hope. Amen.
Coming up this Sunday at Gainesville First UMC
In town for Memorial Day? Celebrate the holiday with your church family! Join us as we enjoy games and activities for all ages and a picnic lunch in the MAC parking lot (weather permitting) on Sunday, May 29, after the 11 am worship services.